function slide(navigation_id, pad_out, pad_in, time, multiplier) {
    // creates the target paths
    var list_elements = navigation_id + " li.sliding-element";
    var link_elements = list_elements + " a"; 
  
    // initiates the timer used for the sliding animation
    var timer = 0;
  
    // creates the hover-slide effect for all link elements
    $(link_elements).each(function(i) {
        $(this).hover(
        function() {
            $("span", this).stop().animate({ marginLeft: pad_out }, 150);
			$(this).stop().animate({ paddingRight: pad_out + 25 }, 150);
        },
        function() {  
            $("span", this).stop().animate({ marginLeft: pad_in }, 150);
			$(this).stop().animate({ paddingRight: pad_in + 30 }, 150);
        });
    });
}